It was already evident that the Trump administration was committed to reducing the presence of illegal immigrants, having dedicated considerable resources to clearing American streets of the most violent and hazardous individuals who had, for years, crossed the southern border without resistance. Now, there are reports that the administration is further intensifying efforts by significantly heightening the standards for immigrants seeking to undergo the naturalization process.

In essence, the administration is conveying that it’s insufficient to merely expel the wrongdoers; there must also be a rigorous and thorough vetting of foreigners who aspire to remain in the U.S. permanently and attain citizenship.

A recent memo from the Trump administration to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) outlines the specifics in comprehensive detail. Titled “Restoring a Rigorous, Holistic, and Comprehensive Good Moral Character Evaluation Standard for Aliens Applying for Naturalization,” the memo stresses that it is not sufficient for applicants to refrain from disqualifying behaviors; they must also demonstrate they possess good moral character.